The NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE (NCI) is requesting project proposals in response to the Rapid Access to Intervention Development (RAID) Program. The RAID Program will make available to academic investigators, on a competitive basis, the preclinical development contract resources of NCI's Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP). RAID is not a grant program. Proposed projects that are approved for access to the resources of RAID gain access to the drug development contract resources of the Developmental Therapeutics Program. The goal of the RAID Program is the rapid movement of novel molecules and concepts from the laboratory to the clinic for proof-of-principle clinical trials. The RAID Program will assist investigators who submit successful project proposals by providing any (or all) of the preclinical development steps that may be obstacles to clinical translation. Possible tasks may include production, bulk supply, good manufacturing process (GMP) manufacturing, formulation, and toxicology. Suitable agents for RAID will include small molecules, biologics, or vaccines.

There are two receipt dates, February 1 and August 1, for requests for RAID support per year. Starting with the February 1, 2006, receipt deadline, all RAID proposals will have to be filed electronically (i.e., through use of a secure web-based procedure) with the NCI; the window of opportunity for electronic filing will be open for approximately 3 weeks before (and including) the receipt deadline date. Paper copies of RAID proposals will no longer be accepted via any means of delivery. Each interested investigator must register for a certificate for electronic filing.

For information on the procedures for requesting RAID resources and for electronically filing a RAID proposal, visit the DTP web site at http://dtp.nci.nih.gov/. Inquiries are encouraged and DTP staff members welcome opportunities to clarify issues or to answer questions about the RAID program. Academic investigators may have collaborations with small-business partners and still qualify for RAID funding. Non-profit organizations other than universities may also submit project proposals to RAID. Please note that a maximum of two distinct requests for support per investigator can be submitted for each receipt date.